I'm trying to read stuff that is genuinely independent of my culture. What suggestions do you guys have?
So far, I've read the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the collected writings of Han Fei Zi, and the Analects.
>My Reasoning
Even though many of them avoid admitting this, most modern intellectual movements have Christian roots. At least partially. Christianity is a fusion of Roman Law, Hebrew Religion and Greek Philosophy. So I should read books that are older than Yahweh and Plato, or who were isolated from Yahweh and Plato.
Egypt was linked to Greece.
And many Eastern ideas have been transmitted to out culture already.
>>7615199
Point taken. But the connection of
Ancient Egyptian religion -> Greek Philosophy -> Modern Culture
is pretty weak.
>Eastern ideas have been transmitted to out culture
Confucius didn't make it to the West until about 1600. So he's independent of the Westprior to 1600, but not the modern West. So long as I contrast him with Western ideas that existed before 1600, he is genuinely independent.
Zhuangzi, Bhagavad Gita, Gilgamesh
>>7615227
I know, just thought I ought to make it clear.
Here's a few:
Mozi
Mencius
Daodejing
Zhuangzi
Xunxi
On the White Hirse
Robber Zhi
>>7615231
>Bhagavad Gita
I've heard that it's difficult to understand this text in English.
Is there a recommended scholarly translation? Or a recommended scholarly commentary on the text and common interpretations of the text?
>Gilgamesh
Oh yeah, I've read that too.
>>7615249
I haven't read it, but I've heard good things about Easwarans translation.
For philosophical texts in general, Hackett and Cambridge tend to be the best for supplementary material.